Steel cities: Tangshan and Sheffield
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can compare how the cities of Tangshan and Sheffield have changed over time.
Key learning points
- The changing global economy can lead to radical changes in cities.
- Sheffield was once a global centre of steel, but has now transitioned to a post-industrial economy.
- Tangshan is a major steelmaking city in modern China.
- Industrial activities shape the landscape, environment, and identity of cities.
Keywords
Industry - the business of turning raw materials into finished products usually in factories
Globalisation - the interconnection of countries worldwide, over time, through trade and industry
Post-industrial - term used to describe a city after it has changed from being centre of manufacturing to a place where most people work in services
Common misconception
All industrial cities decline once their factories close.
Some cities, like Sheffield, adapt by developing new industries, services, and cultural attractions after industrial decline.
Teacher tip
Encourage students to make links between the cities and their local area—for example, ask if any local industries have changed over time, or if old factory buildings have been repurposed. This helps them see industrial change as something real and relevant.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions:
An area where lots of people live and work (e.g. a city)
How happy, healthy, and comfortable people are in a place
The number of people living in a given area
Q2.What is meant by “urban”?
Q3.Which of these is an example of a city with high population density?
Q4.Why might quality of life be low in some city areas?
Q5.Which of these best addresses the idea that “all cities offer a high quality of life”?
Q6.Which is most likely to affect daily life in cities?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions:
Making products from raw materials, usually in factories
Worldwide connections formed through trade and industry
Describes a city that has moved from factories to mainly service jobs
Q2.Which of these is an example of globalisation?
Q3.What happened to cities like Sheffield after factories closed?
Q4.Which of the following best challenges the idea that “all industrial cities decline once their factories close”?
To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: Steel cities: Tangshan and Sheffield, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: Steel cities: Tangshan and Sheffield, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Cities: What are they like to live in? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.